Ideas for Up to FIVE Days of Sedona Adventures...
Day One
Although many of our guests would prefer to do NOTHING!; if you can only stay ONE night with us and have a limited amount of time, here are some favorite “must-see”…
Red Rock Crossing – The most photographed spot in Sedona. Incredible views of Cathedral Rock and Oak Creek. Admission charges apply.
Chapel of the Holy Cross – Beautiful views. Open daily from 9 to 5.
Boynton Canyon – Hiker’s paradise/breathtaking.
Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village – Patterned after a Mexican shopping area in Guadalajara. Unusual shopping, art, and dining. Open 10 to 5 daily and later on weekends. Enter through Portal Lane entrance.
Airport Mesa – Incredible panoramic views of the Red Rocks at Sunset.
Day Two
For a TWO-night stay, consider a Sedona adventure…
Jeep Tours– A very popular way to experience Sedona. A Day in the West started offering Sedona tours in the 1940’s and continues to this day. Whether by Jeep or by horseback, their western guides will give you a real fee for the west.
Horseback Riding – Here is a great way to experience views with an true “old West” atmosphere. Riding can be arranged through Pink Jeep Tours, A Day in the West, Trail Horse Adventures, or M Diamond Ranch (a real working cattle ranch).
Mountain Biking- Some of the best off road biking trails are in our neighborhood. Bring you own bike or rent one from Bike and Bean just around the corner from Canyon Villa at either Absolute Bikes or Sedona Bike and Bean.
Hiking – Short and longer hikes are available on over 100 miles of beautiful trails from our premises and throughout the entire Sedona Red Rock area. A great resource for hiking is “Sedona Hikes”, considered by many to be the authority on Sedona trails. It is available in our gift shop.
Day Three
For a THREE-night stay, consider a day trip to the Grand Canyon…
Grand Canyon Road Trip – We will gladly provide you with a printed one-day itinerary so that you can see the highlights in one day. We have maps and specific directions which will bring you home by a different route through the Navajo reservation with views of the Painted Desert. Private tours are also available from Southwest Outside, our favorite private guide company.
Grand Canyon Air Tours – Plane tours are also available to the Grand Canyon from Sedona through several air tour companies such as Sedona Sky Treks.
OR – Here are some scenic alternatives right here in Sedona if you decide to forego the Grand Canyon:
Uptown Sedona- This merchant area offers shopping, restaurants, and even a museum featuring memorabilia from movies shot in Sedona. Visit the main visitor center of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce where you will find a wealth of local information from energetic volunteers. (FYI–Be wary of other “Tourist Information” booths. Virtually all of these Non-Chamber boots are “fronts” for high pressure Timeshare sales operations.
Oak Creek Canyon – From the uptown area, keep heading north on State Route 89A. The terrain changes from Red Rocks to a beautiful Ponderosa pine forest as the highway winds its way north along Oak Creek to higher elevations in Flagstaff.
Slide Rock State Park – Just 5 miles north of the city limits on 89A, this nationally known State Park known for its beauty and natural rock waterslide.
West Fork Hiking Trail – Located just 13 miles north of Uptown Sedona along 89A, you will find wonderful views in all seasons of the year. You will hike into the Secret Mountain Wilderness as the trail crisscrosses Oak Creek multiple times.
Schnebly Hill Road – Breathtaking views, but not recommended for the average family car. This can be very rough terrain but the memories will last a lifetime. If you have a leased auto, be certain that you have the permission of the leasing company to take their vehicle onto dirt roads.
Day Four
If you have a FOURTH DAY, explore the Verde Valley…
Indian Ruins – (some by dirt roads). We have a very specific road maps with excellent directions to Palatki, Honanki, and the rock art of V-Bar-V Heritage Site . View the ancient rock art and ruins from 1250 AD. (Caution…these sites are accessed over rugged but passable dirt roads) Admission charges apply at Palatki and reservations are required in order to control the flow of human traffic through this fragile site. Call 928-282-4119 for more information.
Indian Ruins – (by paved highway). Visit Montezuma Castle, one of the best restored cliff dwelling in the Southwest. Also nearby is Montezuma’s Well National Monument. Or, you can travel to the Tuzigoot National Monument, a Sinaguan ruin of 110 individual rooms.
Jerome, Arizona– At one time Jerome was the largest city in Arizona. Years later when the copper mining dried up it became a well know ghost town. Today with a population around 500, this eclectic historic town offers great mountain top views, art galleries, and interesting gift shops and studios. A “must see” is the Jerome Historic State Park, a historic mansion home now serving as a historic museum including a wonderful short film about the town’s colorful past.
Golf – There are two 18 hole courses and one 9 hole course just minutes from Canyon Villa.Sedona Golf Resort, Oak Creek Country Club, and Canyon Mesa.
Day Five
For a FIFTH Day, don’t overlook Flagstaff, Arizona…
Head +up Oak Creek Canyon on your way to Flagstaff – At 7,000 ft above sea level, this historic college town can keep you busy all day. Mt Humphries is visible from Flagstaff and sits at 12,000 feet and is snow covered throughout most of the year. Stop at the scenic overlook at the top of the switchbacks on the way for great photo opportunities looking back at Sedona. The Native American Arts Coop is located here in the Spring through the end of October. Authentic Native American jewelry and art is for sale to the public by locals.
Lowell Observatory – Visit this historic observatory where the planet Pluto was discovered! The observatory houses a 100 year old telescope and personal library of Percival Lowell. Tours are available.
Museum of Northern Arizona – Experience artifacts and exhibits of the Native American culture and learn the fascinating history of Northern Arizona. There is a terrific gift shop which offers Hopi, Navajo, and Zuni art.
Riordan Mansion State Historic Park – This is a fine example of arts and crafts architecture. The home was built by two brothers for their brides (two sisters) in 1904. Guided tours are available of the home and furnishings including a 40 room collection of handcrafted items by Edison, Stickley, Tiffany, and Steinway.
Walnut Creek National Monument – Wow! A 60 million year oldcreek-bed and breathtaking canyon with evidence of 3600 yrs of human habitation.
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument – Amazing geologic lessons can be learned from this 900 year old volcano that rained down on the local inhabitants of that time. Volcanic rock and ash that looks as if it fell yesterday.
Wupatki National Monument – Visit the restored ruins of an 800 year old Red Rock pueblo village.
Meteor Crater – Let’s hope this never happens again. 50,000 years ago a 1,000 ton meteor hit Northern Arizona with the force of 20 million tons of TNT. The devastation was so great that NASA astronauts did their moon training at the bottom of this crater. (A bit east on U.S. 40, but worth the drive if you have the time).
And here are even MORE things to chose from in the greater Sedona area.
The list goes on:
Picnic Lunch – We love Memories Bakery & Sandwiches (in Uptown Sedona) for great picnics to tote along to our many scenic spots in Sedona.
Gallery Hopping – Sedona is famous for its variety of art galleries and artist studios.
Cowboy Dinners and Entertainment – Go to the Blazin’M Ranch in Cottonwood.
Ride a Scenic Railroad – Take the Verde Canyon Railroad round trip in Clarkdale.
Spend a day in the past – Take the Way of the Ancients Tour of Canyon de Chelly, Monument Valley, or the Hopi Mesas. Full one-day tours leave from Sedona.
Visit Vortex locations – Take a drive to one of the six Sedona Vortex locations to see if you feel a spiritual or metaphysical energy!
Massage and Spa Treatments – Let us arrange for on-premises massages as well as off-premises spa treatments.
Or as a last resort, just RELAX and do NOTHING AT ALL on our courtyard oasis
